Thread: Hot-fix Swarowskis - how-to?

I bought a whole bunch of Swarowski mirror stones a while ago. They are cute, super shiny, and on top of that, have aurora borealis treatment. And, I am about to receive a silk skirt that is worthy of being blinged up with these treasures ;-) Now - what is the best way to attach them? Some are hot-fix, some are plain.

I would lay the skirt on the floor and smooth it open, take half the crystals and toss them on the skirt in a swooshing motion from hem to waist and then mark where they fell, turn the skirt over and do it again. Kind of like naturalizing daffodil bulbs in your yard.

I have the hot-fix tool thingy. Basically it's a metal thing that heats up and you stick the gem into it. Wait for the back to get all shiny and then adhere to fabric. For the ones that are not regular sized stones, there is a flat head where you just set the gem on the fabric and apply the hot flat head thingy on top of it until it melts.

I have this one: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Innovations-Electric-Bejeweler-Applicator/dp/B002OJIU0M/ref=pd_sbs_k_25]Amazon.com: Crystal Innovations Electric Bejeweler Applicator, Support Stand & 8 Tips: Toys & Games[/ame]

Boy, that image will stick to my mind forever, only a bellydancer can come up with the idea of throwing Swarowskis around like daffodil bulbs ;-) The distribution is not so much my problem, I am planning to start with the hem anyways. I just don't know how make the little buggers stick to the fabric. The digging a hole part.

Ahhh - gottcha!

For the non-hot-fix stones, I really like Aleene's Gem Tac glue. That glue is great for sticking things to fabric and it isn't so "odorous" as E9000.

My other tip for working with rhinestones:

keep the cat from helping you!!!

nuff said.

Originally Posted by tigerb

My other tip for working with rhinestones:

keep the cat from helping you!!!

nuff said.

Hehe, trying to imagine myself artfully tossing rhinestones, and then the Cat From Hell batting them around that silk skirt for a more artful placement ;-) Yes, that seems like a disaster.

I will need to check whether my mirrors (they are bigger than the typical flatback) fit into a reasonably priced hotfix tool.